Services Offered:

Editorial Assessment
Developmental Editing
Line Editing
Query Critique

Preferred Age Level & Genre of Expertise:

Middle grade, young adult, new adult and adult, all fiction or nonfiction within the following genres: hard science fiction, action/adventure, fantasy/urban fantasy, thriller, horror (survival and psychological), dystopian, coming of age, supernatural, western, and comedy.

More About Thomas…

Tom Shimmield (he/him) earned his degree in Professional Writing from Champlain College with a specialization in Editing and Publishing. From a young age, his life has been spent surrounded by literature and storytelling. From making primitive picture books in grade school, to a small book-stacking position at the local library, to online journalism in the arts scene, to full-on manuscript editing, Tom has been traveling down this literary path longer than he can remember. He is the recipient of the Forman School’s 2015 and 2016 awards for High Effort and Achievement in Writing, and is currently the youngest editor to join AE.

For over a year, Tom worked alongside Kate Angelella as her editorial assistant, editing a broad range of client manuscripts. Now, Tom is a proud and happy freelance editor for Angelella Editorial, where he gets to spend his days doing what he’s always loved. He prides himself on helping authors tell the story that only they can tell. Tom’s mission has always been to preserve the voice of the writer while making the story as strong as it can be. With extreme meticulousness and insight, he aims to give you the most complete and all-encompassing critique possible, wholly honest and unencumbered. He has an incredible eye for craft, including story structure, character development, pacing, conflict and more.

Tom primarily likes books that feel adventurous in tone, whether they take place in far-off magical lands or the next street over. Anything with excitement, danger, a sense of mystery and deep, well-thought-out themes, is something that Tom will lap right up. However he is also a fan of more cerebral, slow-burn, character-driven manuscripts.

Favorite Books:

• The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

• Malice by Chris Wooding

• Carrie by Stephen King

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda

• Dracula by Bram Stoker

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

• The Odyssey by Homer

• Beowulf

• MAUS by Art Spiegelman

• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Favorite TV Shows:

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (that’s a package deal), Daredevil, Doom Patrol, The Boys, Doctor Who, Hannibal, Mindhunter, Star Trek (the original series), Sherlock, Happy!, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Love Death + Robots

Testimonials.

"Thomas Shimmield is the most talented young editor I've come across in my career, hands down. I had the pleasure of working with him on his own manuscript when he was just 16 and then watching his writing and editorial skills grow and flourish, years later, when he began working as an intern with my company. After his internship, he became my editorial assistant even while juggling college courses and continued to impress me, requesting more manuscripts than I thought he could possibly read and returning with edit letters longer than my own with insights that echoed my thoughts (impressive, considering I have over a decade on him at this work!) and then some. While I am sad to lose him as my editorial consigliere, I could not be more thrilled to have Thomas as a full-time freelance editor with my company. I would feel a hundred percent confident handing even one of my own clients over to Tom--or my own manuscript. Don't let his age fool you--you won't find a more talented, insightful, or passionate editor for your book.”

-- Kate Angelella, owner & editor, Angelella Editorial

“Thomas offered me the kind of thoughtful scrutiny and feedback that I really needed in finalizing my latest manuscript. He shined a clear light on what worked and what didn’t, from plotting details and character development to tone and setting. Thomas allowed me to see my manuscript from an entirely new point of view, giving just the right amount of encouragement and kudos so I was excited to get back in there and make it better. If you’re looking for a top-notch editor for your next manuscript, look no further than Thomas Shimmield.”

-- Jen Alsever, author of Extraordinary Lies